Changes

Note: This post is from June 24th, 2013. An update is coming soon and you will find it here.

This. This is the food of America. We are a fast food nation, we are unhealthy, and we are dying.

Well, I’m tired of being another statistic. I am 22 and overweight. I am on the road to, God forbid, diabetes, heart conditions, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, colon cancer, and several other health problems. Why would I confess such things, you say? I’m not. I have no intention on allowing any of these things to happen to me–I pray health over my body always. But, I can’t believe for a healthy body and 120 great years of life while shoving McDoubles, Asiago Ranch Chicken Sandwiches, Chalupas, 3-meat Pizzas, Fries, Dipping Sauces, Cony Dogs, 3-Piece Chicken Tenders, Sodas, Candy, and other endless crap down my throat–yes, do go ahead and play the ‘name that restaurant’ game with some of those things listed above…it was specific on purpose.

I am not only at risk because of my weight, but because these things run in my family. Good ol’ genetics. But, sometimes we make our genetics become what they are, and I’m just not trying to have that.

Yes, people come in all shapes and sizes and they are all beautiful. But, there is a difference in being curvy, and just being–I’m sorry, because I dislike this term–fat. Big girls can “back it up,” sure, but they need to hit the gym too. Being unhealthy and sloppy is not appealing; and being healthy has nothing to do with the stereotypical, and quite unrealistic–though not always–supermodel/celebrity look. I don’t care about that. I’m referring to being and looking as healthy as possible for your age, height and sex. No 4-year-old child, standing 3-4 feet tall should be 300lbs, that’s deadly. Same goes for adults.

For my height, age and sex I should be approx. 117-155llbs. That’s a nice range, and it shows that people don’t have to look the same to be healthy–variation exists. So, don’t accuse me or anyone else of saying that I’m trying to look like some fame-named person. Granted, regardless of what anyone says, society has presented an image of beauty before the masses; and avoiding it entirely is nearly impossible. But I think the two go hand-in-hand. Yeah, television made having a gut look less sexy, but so did the doctor.

I was 143-146 lbs. in 7th-9th grade, and I know most people would ask: why would you wanna look or be the same size that you were between the ages of 12 and 15? But if anyone knows me, they’d know that fast food probably changed my hormones, and I’ve looked quite “mature” for quite some time– when I was 12, I didn’t look it! Back then, I was a dancer and super fit. But once I got to high school, my only activity was PE, which wasn’t much–we went bowling and played pool for 1/4 of the semester. By junior year, physical ed. was no longer a requirement and that’s when the weight came. I hit 150 lbs. and thought: “whoo, I’m so big!” Then, 160 came and the doctor told me that I was over the mark but it was okay–just don’t gain anymore. Now, I’m going into grad school at about 194 and I need to make a change.

So, today the journey begins. Today, I become a healthier me. Sure, I’ve said it before & I’ve tried several times, but this is the time that I go for the goal and push all the way through. I’m ready to start anew. I’m moving to NYC in August, starting my Master’s program in social work, moving out of my parent’s home and stepping on the pavements of reality. There’s no better time than the present.

So wish me luck! & feel free to join me on the road to new health and new beginnings 🙂